First Gorton ministry

See also: Gorton government

The First Gorton ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 44th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 19th Prime Minister, John Gorton. The First Gorton ministry succeeded the McEwen ministry, which dissolved on 10 January 1968 following the election of Gorton as Liberal leader after the disappearance of former Prime Minister Harold Holt. The ministry was replaced by the Second Gorton ministry on 12 November 1969 following the 1969 federal election.^[1]

First Gorton ministry
44th Ministry of Australia
Governor-General Lord Casey with first arrangement of newly appointed ministers to the Gorton ministry
Date formed	10 January 1968
Date dissolved	12 November 1969
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Lord Casey Sir Paul Hasluck
Prime Minister	John Gorton
Deputy Prime Minister	John McEwen
No. of ministers	30
Member party	Liberal–Country coalition
Status in legislature	Coalition majority government
Opposition party	Labor
Opposition leader	Gough Whitlam
History
Outgoing election	25 October 1969
Legislature term	26th
Predecessor	McEwen ministry
Successor	Second Gorton ministry

As of 1 May 2025, Ian Sinclair is the last surviving member of the First Gorton ministry; Sinclair is also the last surviving minister of the Menzies, Holt, McEwen, and McMahon governments, as well as the Second Gorton and the First Fraser ministries. James Forbes was the last surviving Liberal minister, and Malcolm Fraser was the last surviving Liberal Cabinet minister.

Cabinet

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	Liberal	Rt Hon John Gorton (1911–2002) Senator for Victoria (1950–1968) MP for Higgins (1968–1975)		Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party Leader of the Government in the Senate (to 1 February 1968) Minister for Education and Science (to 28 February 1968)
	Country	Rt Hon John McEwen (CH) (1900–1980) MP for Murray (1949–1971)		Deputy Prime Minister Leader of the Country Party Minister for Trade and Industry
	Liberal	Rt Hon William McMahon (1908–1988) MP for Lowe (1949–1982)		Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Treasurer
	Liberal	Rt Hon Paul Hasluck (1905–1993) MP for Curtin (1949–1969)		Minister for External Affairs (to 11 February 1969)
	Liberal	Hon Allen Fairhall (1909–2006) MP for Paterson (1949–1969)		Minister for Defence
	Country	Hon Doug Anthony (1929–2020) MP for Richmond (1957–1984)		Deputy Leader of the Country Party Minister for Primary Industry
	Liberal	Hon Denham Henty (1903–1978) Senator for Tasmania (1950–1968)		Minister for Supply (to 28 February 1968)
	Liberal	Hon Alan Hulme (1907–1989) MP for Petrie (1963–1972)		Postmaster-General Vice-President of the Executive Council
	Liberal	Hon David Fairbairn DFC (1917–1994) MP for Farrer (1949–1975)		Minister for National Development
	Liberal	Hon Les Bury (1913–1986) MP for Wentworth (1956–1974)		Minister for Labour and National Service
	Country	Hon Ian Sinclair (born 1929) MP for New England (1963–1998)		Minister for Social Services (to 28 February 1968) Minister for Shipping and Transport (from 28 February 1968) Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Industry
	Liberal	Hon Ken Anderson (1909–1985) Senator for New South Wales (1953–1975) (in Cabinet from 28 February 1968)		Minister for Customs and Excise (to 28 February 1968) Leader of the Government in the Senate (from 28 February 1968) Minister for Supply (from 28 February 1968)
	Liberal	Hon Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015) MP for Wannon (1955–1983) (in Cabinet from 28 February 1968)		Minister for the Army (to 28 February 1968) Minister for Education and Science (from 28 February 1968)
	Liberal	Hon Gordon Freeth (1914–2001) MP for Forrest (1949–1969) (in Cabinet from 11 February 1969)		Minister for Shipping and Transport (to 28 February 1968) Minister for Air (from 28 February 1968 to 13 February 1969) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 28 February 1968 to 13 February 1969) Minister for External Affairs (from 11 February 1969)

Outer ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	Country	Hon Charles Barnes (1901–1998) MP for McPherson (1958–1972)		Minister for Territories (to 28 February 1968) Minister for External Territories (from 28 February 1968)
	Liberal	Hon Reginald Swartz MBE (1911–2006) MP for Darling Downs (1949–1972)		Minister for Civil Aviation Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 13 February 1969)
	Liberal	Hon Billy Snedden QC (1926–1987) MP for Bruce (1955–1983)		Minister for Immigration Leader of the House (to February 1969)
	Liberal	Hon Dr James Forbes MC (1923–2019) MP for Barker (1956–1975)		Minister for Health
	Liberal	Hon Peter Howson (1919–2009) MP for Fawkner (1955–1969)		Minister for Air (to 28 February 1968) Minister assisting the Treasurer (to 28 February 1968)
	Country	Hon Colin McKellar (1903–1970) Senator for New South Wales (1958–1970)		Minister for Repatriation
	Liberal	Hon Dame Annabelle Rankin DBE (1908–1986) Senator for Queensland (1947–1971)		Minister for Housing
	Liberal	Hon Nigel Bowen QC (1911–1994) MP for Parramatta (1964–1973)		Attorney-General
	Liberal	Hon Don Chipp (1925–2006) MP for Higinbotham (1960–1969)		Minister for the Navy (to 28 February 1968) Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry (to 28 February 1968)
	Liberal	Hon Bert Kelly (1912–1997) MP for Wakefield (1958–1977)		Minister for Works (to 28 February 1968) Minister for the Navy (from 28 February 1968)
	Country	Hon Peter Nixon (1928-2025) MP for Gippsland (1961–1983)		Minister for the Interior
	Liberal	Hon Phillip Lynch (1933–1984) MP for Flinders (1966–1982) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)		Minister for the Army (from 28 February 1968)
	Liberal	Hon Malcolm Scott (1911–1989) Senator for Western Australia (1950–1971) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)		Chief Government Whip in the Senate (to 12 February 1968) Minister for Customs and Excise (from 28 February 1968)
	Liberal	Hon Bill Wentworth (1907–2003) MP for Mackellar (1949–1977) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)		Minister for Social Services (from 28 February 1968) Minister in charge of Aboriginal Affairs under the Prime Minister (from 28 February 1968)
	Liberal	Hon Reg Wright (1905–1990) Senator for Tasmania (1950–1978) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)		Minister for Works (from 28 February 1968) Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry (from 28 February 1968)
	Liberal	Hon Dudley Erwin (1917–1984) MP for Ballaarat (1955–1975) (in Ministry from 13 February 1969)		Chief Government Whip in the House (to 12 February 1969) Minister for Air (from 13 February 1969)